Bus chassis construction



Aug. 16, 1932. c. w. MILLER ET AL BUS CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1930 INVENTOR CLARENCE W MIL LER AND BYGILBERT c. $00015.

ATTORNEY Aug- 16, 1 3 c. w. MILLER ET AL 1,872,485

BUS CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. ,22. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r INVE.NTOR m CLARENCE W. MILLER AND y GILBERT 62 60005.

. E I. %MORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 ED STATES CLARENCE W. MILLER, 01DETROIT, AND GILBERT C. GOODE, OF BIRMINGHAM, MICHI- GAIN, ASSIGNOBS T0CHRYSLER CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWAREBUS CHASSIS CONSTRUGTIQN Application filed. September 22, 1330. ,SerialNo. 483,447.

This invention relates to an improved chassis construction particularlyfor a motor bus.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a chassis of the typewhich has a centrally located, main longitudinal column on therespectively opposite sides of which are mounted a pair of drivingmotors; to provide improved motor supporting outriggers from which themotors are suspended so as to be conveniently removable; and to provideoverhanging supports of this type from which the motors may bedisconnected and removed from the chassis by lowering them from theirmounting.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved spring supportingarms on the central column which extend laterally beyond both sidesthereof and form supports for the sprung portion of the chassis; toprovide improved Outriggers for supporting a bus body p which arelocated in related proximity to the spring supporting arms; and toprovide means on the spring supporting arms for reinforcing the outerportions of the outriggers.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved shockabsorber support; to provide a support of this kind which has endportions registering with the intermediate portions of the springs; andto provide bull'- ers on the end portions of the shock absorber supportsfor cushioning extreme relative movement between the sprung and unsprungparts of the chassis towards each other.

An illustrative embodiment of our invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bus chassis embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line of Fig.-1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical-section taken on the line 55of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the structure shown inFig. 8, as viewed from the line 99 thereof.

Fig. 10 'is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 10-1O ofFig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

In the form shown, the chassis includes a central longitudinal column 1having spaced channel bars 2 on its respectively opposite sides, thechannel sides of the bars being arranged outwardly. A pair oftransversemotor supports 3 are mounted at their intermediate portions upon theupper: side 4 of the column 1. The members 3 preferably comrise channelbars and their end portions extend laterally beyond the respectivelyopposite sides of the column 1. These laterally extending end portionsare slightly arch shaped and they have downwardly extending extremities5 which are substantially parallel to the webs of the channel bars 2 ofthe column.

The channel side of each motor support 3 extends upwardly as shownin'Fig. 3, and a pair of upright gusset plates 6 are secured by rivets 7to the respectively opposite sides 8 of the channel bars of which themotor supports are formed. The gusset plates of each motor supportextend outwardly beyond the opposite sides of the column 1 and they areconnected together at their upper ends by a body supporting outrigger 9-which is arranged transversely of the column and which extends outwardlybeyond the motor support 3 as shown in Fig. 2. The Outriggers havingside flanges 10 which are riveted at 11 to the upper edge portions ofthe gusset plates 6. This construction forms a tremendous strength ofthe type shown in Fig. 3. The outer curved portions of the motorsupporting members 3 are each rigidly connected to their respectiveOutriggers by .plates 12 which areriveted at 13 and 14 to the sideflanges 10 and of the channels 9 and 3,

tubular structure 016 respectively. If desired, the plates 12 may beformed integral with the gusset plates 6.

Located between the side flanges of each channel .bar 2 of the column 1are motor mounting brackets 15 of channel shape having side-flanges 16which are riveted at 17 to the flanges of the channel bar 2. The webs ofthe motor supporting brackets 15 and the webs of the downwardlyextending end portions 5 of the motor supporting arms are providedwithpapertures through which bolts 18 extend for supporting a pair ofmotors 19 which are suspended from the arch shaped end portions of themotor supporting members, one motor being located on each side of thechassis. These motors may be conveniently installed frombeneath the sideof the vehicle chassis by raising them into place and they have anunobstructed path through which they may be lowered in removing themotors from the chassis.

Mounted on the lower side of the column 1,

somewhat in advance of the motor supports- 3 is a transverse springsupporting member 20 having end portions which extend laterally from therespectively opposite sides of the column 1. The member 20 has aplanular seat 21 by which it is rigidly secured to the lower side of thecolumn by rivets 22 extending through the lower side flange of the webof the channel 2 and through reinforcing brackets 23 which are rivetedat 24 to the web of the channel 2. The member 20 is provided forsupporting the rear ends of springs 25 on which the rear axle 26 of thebus chassis is mounted. Spring supporting pivots 27 carporting member 31which has a planular seat 32 that is rigidly secured by rivets 33 to thelower side of the column 1, as viewed in Fig. 6. The transverse member31 has outwardly extending flanges 34 on each outer extremity of whichthe'respectively opposite sides of inverted U-shaped brackets 35 aremounted by rivets 36, as shown in Fig. 7. The brackets 35 are elongatedat their upper extremities which are located substantially inthe planeof the top side of the column 1 and the inner endsof the upper portionsof the brackets 35 abut againstthe side edges of the column 1, as shownin Fig. 6.

Mounted on the top side of the column 1, in registration with thetransverse spring sup porting member 31, is a transverse bodysupporting/outrigger 37 comprising a channel bar which has a flattenedintermediate portion 38 restingupon the top of the column and securedthereto by rivets 39. The outrigger 37 extends outwardly beyond therespectively 35. With this construction the spring supporting members31, which are of heavy metal construction as shown in section in Fig. 7,support the outer portions of the outrigger 37.

The springs 25 of the rear axle of the chassis are suspended in theabove described manner from the transverse members 20 and 31. Thesprings 42 of the front axle 43 are suspended in a similar manner from atransverse member 44 which is substantially identical in construction tothe transverse member 20 and the rear ends of the springs 42 aresupported by a transverse member, not shown, that is identical inconstruction to the transverse. member 31 and which also supports anoutrigger 45 substantially identical to the outrigger 37 shown in Fig.6. The identity of the various parts of the chassis reduces the cost ofconstruction thereof materially and simplifies the problems ofconstruction and assembling.

Mounted on the upper and lower sides of the column 1, in registrationwith the front axle 43 of the chassis are upper and lower transversemembers 46 and 47, respectively which have planular intermediatesections 48 and 49 secured to the top and bottom sides I of the column,respectively by the rivets 17 which secure the parts of the fabricatedcolumn together. The end portions of the members 46 and 47 extend beyondthe respectively opposite sides of the column 1 and they converge andare secured together by rivets 50 at their outer extremities. The outerend portions of the upper member 46 are similarly shaped and have sideflanges 51 to which gusset plates 52 are riveted at 53. The lower edgesof the gusset plates 52 are provided with flanges 53' which are locatedadjacent the lower side of the outer end portions of the transversemember 47'and secured thereto by rlvets 54.

The above structure provides a partial inclosure at the outer endportions of the transverse members 46 and 47 in which shock absorbers 55are located. -Each shock absorber 55 has an arm 56 which is pivotallyconnected by an adjustable link 57 with the front axle 43 of thechassis. Mounted on the.

outer extremities of the-transverse members 46- and 47 are bufiers 58which preferably comprise blocks of rubber and which are located inregistration with .the central portions of the springs 42 of the frontaxle. These bufl'ers engage the springs and cushion extreme movement ofthe sprung and unsprung portion of the chassis towards each other. I

The front end of the column 1 is provided with a body supportingoutrigger 59 which comprises a channel bar having a planularintermediate portion which is seated upon and riveted to the top side ofthe column, as shown in Fig. 10. The outrigger '59 is supported by atransverse member 61 comprising a channel bar having a planularintermediate section 62 which is seated upon, and riveted to the lowerside of the column 1. These transverse members extend beyond therespectively opposite sides of the column and the outwardly extendingportions of the lower members 61 are inclined upwardly and secured attheir extremities by rivets 63 to the side flanges 64 of the outrigger59 between which they are received as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has herein beenshown and described, it will be understood that various changes in thesize, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit of our invention and it is not our intention to limit itsscope other than by the terms of the appended claims;

What we claim is:

1. A vehicle chassis including a central,

longitudinal frame member, a transverse.

motor support mounted on said member having arch shaped end portionslocated on the respectively opposite sides of said member, a pair ofmotors one suspended from each arch shaped end portion of said motorsupport, and supporting structure above said motor support extendinglaterally of said chassis and secured to the outer-extremities of saidarch shaped end portions.

2. A vehicle chassis including a central, longitudinal frame member, atransverse motor support mounted on said member having arch shaped endportions located on the respectively opposite sides of said member, apair of motors, one suspended from each arch shaped end portion of saidmotor support,

upright gusset plates mounted on the inter mediate portions of saidmotor support, a body supporting outrigger on the upper edge portions ofsaid gusset plates having end portions in registration with the archshaped ends of vsaid motor support, and members rigidly connecting theouter extremities of said arch shaped portions to said outrigger so asto apply some of the weight of said motors thereon.

3. A vehicle chassis including a longitudinal frame member, a transversemotor support including a channel bar having an arch shaped portion forreceiving a motor, the 7 lower side of said arch shaped portion beingopen so as to permit installation and removal of. said motor from belowsaid chassis, upright gusset plates on the respectively opposite sidesof said channel bar, and an outrigger secured to the upper extremitiesof said gusset plates forming a support for a vehicle body.

4. A vehicle chassis including a longitudinal frame member, a transversemotor support including a channel bar having an arch shaped portionforreceiving amotor,the lower side of said arch shaped portion beingopen 'so as to permit installation and removal of said motor from belowsaid chassis, upright gusset plates on the respectively opposite sidesof said channel bar, and a body sup- I porting outrigger comprising achannel bar to the channel shaped side members of said column, and apair of motors, each secured at one side to one of said brackets and atthe other side to one of the downwardly extending sections of saidsupport respectively.

6. A vehicle chassis including a central, longitudinal frame member, apair of spaced transverse motor supports, each extending beyond thesides of said frame member and comprising a channel bar having.downwardly extending end sections, a pair of motors, one located betweeneach side of said frame member and the corresponding downwardlyextending sections of said supports, a

pair of Outriggers in registration with said supports each comprising aninverted channel bar, gusset plates connecting the intermediate portionsof the sides of said channel bars together, and means connecting theends I of said motor supports to said Outriggers. CLARENCE W. MILLER.GILBERT C. GOODE.

